Off-colour Morgan show brings United’s 100% league start to an abrupt end

PLAYERRATINGS

DUNDEE United found out the hard way that the tag of Championship title favourites means nothing as they were swept aside by a vibrant St Mirren on Saturday.

At the Paisley 2021 Stadium, the Tangerines were out-worked, out-thought and out-played by the buzzing Buddies as their 100% start to the season came to an abrupt halt.

Everything had gone swimmingly in the league for United, with three wins out of three in a perfect start to the season.

However, they were taught a harsh lesson in Paisley at the weekend that they’re not the only ones in this division with promotion ambitions.

St Mirren’s start to the campaign hadn’t quite been the one expected after bookies installing them as second favourites for the title behind United.

They did, though, put out a statement to the rest of the league that they’ll be a force to be reckoned with at the top end of the table.

The architect of this fine victory was the superb Lewis Morgan — a player the Buddies have already turned down a bid of £250,000 for this summer and you could see why.

United couldn’t get near the 20-yearold all day and it was he who broke the deadlock.

Up until the 26th minute, the match had been fairly even with both sides testing the goalkeepers.

Sam Stanton had an early effort on the stretch saved before Scott McDonald had what turned out to be United’s best chance of the afternoon on 16 minutes.

A well-worked corner set Stanton up with a shooting chance on the edge of the area, he didn’t catch it but McDonald controlled and shot on the turn, only for Craig Samson to smother the effort.

What was evident before the home side took the lead was that United were struggling to get any possession going in the middle of the park because of the way St Mirren were hounding the ball.

The midfield of Ian McShane and Stephen McGinn, helped by Morgan dropping back in from his forward position, were all over Fraser Fyvie and Willo Flood, neither of whom looked anything near showing their true ability.

And when Morgan got himself free on 26 minutes, he was given all the time in the world to run from halfway, move the ball on to his left foot and hit a low shot past Harry Lewis.

From there, the Tangerines just never looked like getting back into the game and that’s probably the most frustrating thing for the Tannadice management.

McShane brought a save from Lewis from a free-kick and hit the bar from a corner with Gavin Reilly having a decent chance from a short back header in between.

So it was no surprise when Morgan made it 2-0 just after half-time. The initial move broke down but the ball fell back to Morgan who curled beyond Lewis from outside the area, this time with his right foot.

Jamie Robson then had a fine run and shot from left-back and Paul McMullan and McDonald put free-kicks just wide but there was no denying St Mirren deserved the third late on.

Once again Morgan was the tormentor, picking out McShane on the edge of the area with the former Ross County man taking a touch before picking his spot.

All day United just weren’t at the races while St Mirren swamped them in midfield. The Tangerines now have to show it was just an off-day if they are to live up to pre-season predictions.